It is an issue as old as collegiate sports. Are they "student athletes" or "athlete students?" The latest report from the NCAA is out, and the numbers are not good. More than 700 teams from member institutions underperformed in the classroom, with nearly 150 schools facing scholarship losses. Another penalty is the potential loss of postseason competition which means the possibility of winning a national championship is out the window.

The report confirms what many have suspected, but the message is still not getting through to all the students. While extra curricular activities may grant access to a secondary education, the students themselves must be responsible both on the field and in the classroom.

It is not easy, but then again it is not supposed to be. Juggling the tasks of a demanding sports schedule along with a legitimate degree program is difficult. The schools know that and so should the students well before they step foot on a college campus. Much is written in the media about the athletes who "leave early" to pursue their dreams in professional sports to earn big dollars. While it seems like many, they are among the few. Most college athletes will never get that chance.

The report is supposed to be a wake up call to both the students and the member institutions, and there's no question some will hear the message loudly and clearly. But it is a horn which should never have to be sounded. The youngsters at this level been reminded to "hit the books" well before they were given the opportunity to play at the collegiate level. After all the word is "Scholar-ship," not "free entrance."

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